One cigar that have you have dropped ....and one cigar that you have added to your rotation in 2023

[loose_axle]

Dropped: 

Almost all CC's. Picked up one or two boxes of things I really wanted to try but it now it will be an every few years to replace the stand outs of the line which is RA and Bolivar for me. 

Added: 

Trying every NC I can lay hands on. 

[Puros Y Vino]

Dropped HUHC. Went through too many and harder for me to refill.  Slowing down my smoke rate on these.

Added: Quinteros Petit Quintero.  Similar in size to HUHC.  Very tasty cigar for its' price point and easier for me to refill on.

My decision to drop/add really boils down to options for cold weather, shorter smokes.

[Nevrknow]

Haven't even thought about this. Great question. Haven't really dropped anything but ( there's always a but ) due to logistics. Forced to not re-supply. AT this time. 😁

Added: well due to me getting those " already sold emails" ( She knows who she is. 😂 ) There were a few I never got a hold of that I wanted to try but never got to get during the good old days. Blessed with friends that have allowed me to try some of them. I'll say Trinidad. I love my Cohibas, don't get me wrong, but those Trinis really hit me in the heart. Love them. Those and E2's. Wish I would have smoked one in my early days. Need to add more. And will when the "timing is right". 🤫

[Glass Half Full]

Dropped:  Almost all Cohibas and Trinis (by dropped I mean not having any except for two while traveling …and except maybe just one really special one tomorrow:) for the entire year of 2023. I am saving them for years from now to allow the wonders of aging and cannot justify buying boxes of them anymore. Big post-its on boxes say “>2030”

Added: I’ve bought (and split) more Nudies than ever this past year. The 2023s have evolved wonderfully, and I’m excited to experience what age may bring to them. 

[Lt4-396]

Dropped: Cohiba and Trinidad. Several boxes left and will not be replenishing them. It hurt at first but now I don't even consider having a Siglo I or Reyes with coffee or a Siglo 6, Esplendido, Lancero at night.

I added more of what I enjoy. This includes RASS, Jl#1/#2, HU Mag#50 etc... but especially unbanded Cubans and Nudies. The Carlotta is my go-to without question. The Cuban tobacco quality is unreal and roll quality may have risen a touch in 23' but I am adding more and more unbanded and Nudies into the mix and feel great about it.

On a side note. NC have really come a long way in recent years and while I was a 100% CC smoker I am now leaning more into NC. Not only due to their unmatched roll quality but the blends are significantly better than years past. Habanos is in dangerous waters and on the verge of losing many customers for life and more importantly losing new business (outside of look-at-me Cohiba) buyers.

I am slightly biased as I am sure many here have amassed a lifetime or more supply of Cubans so I thankfully have the option to vote with my wallet and just not buy. I truly feel for those looking to build inventory after the insanity of the last few years.

 

[Bri Fi]

Dropped: the amount of CC I consume due to price. Sucks that it’s right when the quality was at its best starting in 2019. There really is nothing better than Cuban cigars. 

Added: the next best thing, 4 bundles of Canonazos purchased in 2023. I love everything about them. Construction, flavor, aroma, etc. 

[multi-useless]

On 12/18/2023 at 9:50 AM, 99call said:

The one Cuban that I had a few boxes of that I will never buy again is the BRC......utterly pointless blend. In the no mans land between a BBF and a Libertador. Found them to be paperly and lifeless.   

Funny how taste buds work…. I’ve always preferred BRC to BBF.  I’ve pretty much dropped all pyramids since the price hikes (since there’s almost always a robusto-ish vitola within the marca that I prefer - BRC > BBF, mag 54 > HU2, Edmundo > Monte 2) but we’ll see how strong I am the next time Dippy 2’s come around.  Hint - I’m not that strong.

Not dropped but seriously cut back - all minutos.  The value/$ just isn’t there at 2x the price.  That said, I’ll probably feel differently about whether they’re worth it when I start to run low on Party Shorts.

On 12/18/2023 at 4:16 AM, GVan said:

Added - also, kind of sad - MOFOH Spada Gordas, Amante IV's, Warped La Hacienda and Cloud Hopper 53's, Tatuaje Black Labels, Rojas Street Tacos, Casdagli Daughters of the Wind.  All NC's and no new CC's expected to enter the rotation any time soon.

If I may ask, where are you finding Casdagli DOTW?  The robusto is probably the best NC I’ve ever smoked but I haven’t seen it available anywhere…

I’ve also increased my NC consumption - lots more Warped, L’Atelier, and especially the DPG Black - when it comes to reliable smokes that I can count on every time, it’s an NC in territory normally reserved for CC’s.